Foot exerciser



SePt- 4, 1934- E. R. MAYLAND 1,972,308

FOOT EXERCISER Sept. 4, 1934. E. R. MAYLAND FOOT EXERC I SER Filed Sept. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tin/ucm E'RfM/gld nl Patented Sept. 4, 1934 Umrec- STATES PATENroFFicfE l y EOOTEXERCISER y A Emil R. Mayland, Hutchinson, Kans. l' v Application september 7, 1933, serial Noyesasosl 7 claims. (ci. 27a- 57)l Y of the feet may be carried out ina regulated manner and wherein one arch of one foot may be exercised andV treated while exercising and treat-Y ing another arch or portion of the other foot.

A still further object of the invention is to pro- Vide a device of the character above describedv wherein the degree of exercise imposedfupon the medial longitudinal arches of the feet may be regulated.

The invention will bebestunderstood from a i consideration of the following detailed descrip-A tion taken in connection' with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

with the understanding,.however, that the finvention is notlconned to any `strict conformity withpthe showingof the,drawings but may 'be changed or .modified solong .as such changes or modifications v mark-,noflmaterial departure from the salient features V.ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims;k l

In the drawingszv-i 'Y Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the de vice embodying the present invention showing in dotted lines the application of the medial longitudinal arch restoring feature to one foot;

Figure 2 is a View in top plan of the device;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the device is illustrated as being of a portable character in that it is mounted upon a shiftable or movable base l, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this feature as it will be obvious that the elements making up the eXerciser may be mounted directly upon the floor.

Upon the supporting base there is mounted in upright position a vertically shiftable post which sponge rubber.

is indicated as a Whole bythe numeral 2 and which comprisesa bottom sleeve 3, here illusv trated as being secured to the base by means of a vcoupling 4. In the upper end of this sleeve is slidably extended a shaft 5 which is of polygonal 60 cross section and'which snugly engages in the correspondingly shaped interior of the sleeve 3. The upper end of the post 5 is provided with the integral cross head6 which at its ends is formed to provide thel knobs 7 vor other means to prevent 65 the hereinafter described elastic strap from slipping therefrom while in use. 1' l The overall length of the post or standard 2 is changed as desired by providing the sleeve' with a threaded thumb screw S which passes therethrough-and'frictionally engages the shaft to secure the latter inadjuste'd position relative to the sleeve. y

A Uponeitherside of the post Zthere is secured. y

to the basel a block 8.l These blocksare elongated and aredisposed in angular or'convergent relation and each has itsinner side, which is the sidenearest the post 2, formed to provide the outwardly and upwardly inclined wall .surface Y9 which at the rear end of the block curvesxin- 8o wardly as indicated at 10. These inwardly curved rear endy walls of the rblocksare, slightly farther 'apart than theforward ends'as is illustrated in Figure Y2 and have the heels of the ,user Y of the ldevice pressed thereagainst.' :l 85

The inclinedw'alljsurfaces 9-10 are covered by asuitable padding Which is indicated` by the numeral. 1'1:` andwhich is preferably sponge rubber.

Connecting the blocks 8 between the trans- 90; verse centers thereof is the relatively broad elastic strap 12 which when in use extends over the cross head 6 of the post or standard 2 and is maintained under tension. While any suitable means may be employed for securing the ends of the elastic strap to the supporting base upon which the elements are mounted, it is preferred that the blocks 8 be provided with suitable recesses 13 across their under faces to receive the ends of the strap, which are provided with the transversely extending enlargements 14 which prevent their being pulled from place as is illustrated in Figure 4.

Adjacent the outer side of each of the blocks 8, the base has mounted thereon an arch-like frame or yoke 15, the end portions 16 of which are secured to the base as illustrated in Figure 1. The inner faces of these yokes are covered or shielded by a padding 17 which is preferably across the center of the arch of the foot.

v mounted adjacent these yokes.

One edge of each yoke 15 is turned up slightly as indicated at 18 and this turned up edge is covered by the padding 17 so that it will not cut into the top of the foot when the same is engaged under the yoke, in the manner hereinafter described.

Adjacent each of the yokes 15 the base has mounted therein the tube 19 in which is vertically slidably disposed the pin 20 whichkr carries a relatively large head 21 Which is rounded upon its upper side. Surrounding the pin and sleeve 19--20 is a spring 22 which normally maintains the head 21 raised from the underlying supporting surface.

In the use of the present device for restoring or strengthening the medial longitudinal arches of the feet, the proper vertical adjustment is rst given to the shaft 5 to place the elastic strap under proper tension, and the patient thenstands astraddle the standard with the feet resting upon the straps and bearing at the outer sides against the lpadded inclined walls 9-10 of the blocksY 8; The heels engage the padding at the curved portions 10 of the block `walls andthe strap extends The feet are then exercised by rocking the same inwardlyand outwardly While the weight of Vthe body is thereon, thuscausing constant intermittent applications of lpressure tothe arch by the strap. The manner in which the strap engages the arch of the foot is illustrated in Figure 1 Where a single foot is shownapplied t0 one side of the device.

For treating rnetatarsal conditions of the foot the patient engages the toes of the feet undei1 the vention progressive treatment may be given the Various portions of the'feet to restore tone to the l arches and reduce undesirable and unsightlyconditions of the joints. f Y

Having thus described the invention, what is 'claimed is:- f I f 1. In a foot exerciser,a body-'against which the outer side of the foot is placed, and a yieldable element extending from the transverse central portion of the body and at an upward inclination therefrom for contact with the longitudinal archA of the foot engaging the rst body.

2. In a foot exerciser, a foot retaining body against which the outer side of the foot is placed,

yand an elongated elastic strap member connected at 'one end with said body and extending upwardly and outwardly Atherefrom for engagement across the arch of the foot placed against *the body, said strap member being under tension. v

3.` A foot exerciser, comprising a foot retaining. body, and'yieldable means adjacent the body for imposing a transverse pressure against the 'longitudinal arch of a foot placed with its outer side against the body.

4. A foot exerciser, comprising a foot retaining-body, and yieldable means adjacent the bodyfor imposing a transverse pressure against the longitudinal arch ofiV a foot placed with its outer` side against the'body, saidvmeans being formed to follow the contour of the archof the foot-at the inner side ofthe latter when downward pressure is applied to the foot.v

5.k A foot exerciser, comprising a pair of spaced members each of which is designedto contact the outersideof a foot, and a yieldable element disposed `between said members and forming two upwardly inclined surfaces each extending from the bottom of the central part of a member upwardly and converging with the other surface.

6.1m a foot exerciser,l apair of spaced members each designed to contact the outer side of a foot, an upstanding unit disposed midwayl between the members, and a strap of elastic inaterial extending 'across said unit and having its ends secured adjacent: the `bottom central portions of the members. y

'7. In a'footexerciser,` a pair of spaced members each? designed to contact'theouter side of a foot, an upstandinglunit disposed midway betweenthe members, and a strap of elastic material extending acros'ssaid unit, and having its ends securedY adjacentV the Abottom central pory tionsbfihe members, said'unit being adjustable for negrita-,facilitate varying the tension of said strap.

EMIL R. MAYLAND. 

